Men's Basketball

Top Moment #7 - Men's Hoops Knocks Off Houston

Jul 12, 2011

CORPUS CHRISTI -Throughout the summer of 2011, GoIslanders.com will look back at the best moments and athletic performances from the 2010-11 school year.

Every Thursday, we will bring you one of the top 10 individual performances, with Tuesdays bringing the year's top 10 moments. Be sure to keep tabs on GoIslanders.com throughout the summer to celebrate all the great moments.

Top Moment #7 - Men's Hoops Knocks Off Houston

The Islanders basketball team registered a momentous 81-78 overtime victory over Houston on Dec. 18. Placing four players in double figures, the Islanders showed mental and physical toughness throughout the game to post their first victory over the Cougars in school history.

Horace Bond scored a season-high 14 points and Terence Jones added 16, but it wasDemond Watt leading the way with 17 points and Justin Reynolds finishing with 14 to lift the Islanders to the win.

The Islanders got off to a quick start in the first half, putting up a 19-6 run to garner a 25-13 advantage, with Watt's dunk capping off a rally. The Cougars came out of the half and slowly whittled away the Islanders' lead to 51-45 with 12:41 remaining. The two squads continued to go blow-for-blow toward the end of the game, and the Cougars rallied for a late two-point lead. Then, Chris Mast tied the game at 72-72 with 1:25 left on a brilliant teardrop in the lane, and the teams went on to extra time.

To open the overtime session, Reynolds cut to the hoop and hit an off-balance layup, pushing him past the 1,000-career-point barrier and giving the Islanders a 74-72 lead. Watt then got a steal and dunked it home on a fast-break layup to make it a four-point advantage for the home squad. Tension rose when the Cougars scored a triple from the corner, but Reynolds quickly responded with a steal and fast-break dunk to make it 78-75. Still, with just 1:14 left, UH tied the score with a traditional three-point play.

Fans then stood nervously in the arena when Watt went to the line the next time down the court and hit 1-of-2 to make it 79-78 with only 51 seconds remaining. Hearts raced, and players' adrenaline was at its peak when the Cougars drove to the rim twice on the ensuing possession, but twice were denied by blocks - one made by Watt and the other by Jones.

However, the Cougars regained possession with 27 seconds to go, but missed their shot and after the rebound got punched to Reynolds, Jones was fouled with 14.6 seconds remaining. The redshirt sophomore showed his cool demeanor, hitting both shots at the line for an 81-78 edge. Bond finished it off when he deflected a potential game-tying three with three seconds left and Reynolds grabbed the board to ice the win.

It was the first victory for the Islanders over Houston in five games all-time. The Islanders had sent UH to overtime before in 2006, but came up short in that contest.